NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The Rangers added another candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation when they took right-hander Michael Hauschild from the Astros in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday morning.
Houston selected Hauschild in the 33rd round of the 2012 Draft out of the University of Dayton, and he had steadily climbed the Astros' system since. Hauschild went 9-10 with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 24 starts at Triple-A Fresno in 2016. He struck out 119 batters and walked 40 in 139 2/3 innings.
• Hot Stove Tracker | Rule 5 Draft results
"He commands the fastball on both sides of the plate and he has two different changeups -- a traditional one and a forkball," general manager Jon Daniels said. "We are looking at him coming into camp to compete for the fifth-starter spot. Good makeup, has an out pitch with the forkball. He could factor into the bullpen, but we are looking at him competing in camp for the fifth-starter spot."
The Rangers have a rotation of Cole Hamels, Yu Darvish, Martin Pérez and Andrew Cashner. Their,fifth-starter candidates include A.J. Griffin, Nick Martínez, Tyler Wagner and Hauschild, with more to come.